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MBLEx · 12% of the exam

Kinesiology practice questions

10 free Kinesiology questions for the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question MBLEx quiz

What this domain covers

How muscles and joints produce movement: muscle structure, types of contraction, proprioceptors, attachments and actions, and range of motion.

Exam weight
12%
On a real exam
≈ 12 questions
In our bank
73 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Origins, insertions and actions of major muscles
  • Concentric, eccentric and isometric contractions
  • Proprioceptors such as muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs
  • Joint types and the movements they allow
  • Active, passive and resisted range of motion

How to study it

For each major muscle, learn its attachments and then work out its action from where it crosses the joint; this is quicker than memorising actions as a separate list.

Sample Kinesiology questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    Which muscle is part of the rotator cuff?

    • ATeres major, which assists adduction
    • BSupraspinatus
    • CLatissimus dorsi of the back
    • DRhomboid major near the spine
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Supraspinatus

    • AIncorrect. It isn't a rotator cuff muscle.
    • BCorrect. With infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis.
    • CIncorrect. It isn't a rotator cuff muscle.
    • DIncorrect. It isn't a rotator cuff muscle.

  2. Question 2

    Moving a limb away from the body's midline is:

    • AAdduction
    • BAbduction
    • CFlexion
    • DPronation
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Abduction

    • AIncorrect. That's toward the midline.
    • BCorrect. Adduction moves toward the midline.
    • CIncorrect. That decreases a joint angle.
    • DIncorrect. That turns the palm down.

  3. Question 3

    Which muscles close the jaw?

    • ALateral pterygoid, which opens and protrudes the jaw
    • BMasseter and temporalis
    • CBuccinator
    • DOrbicularis oris
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Masseter and temporalis

    • AIncorrect. It helps open.
    • BCorrect. The medial pterygoid helps.
    • CIncorrect. It compresses the cheeks.
    • DIncorrect. It closes the lips.

  4. Question 4

    When one side contracts, the erector spinae:

    • ARotates the hip
    • BFlexes the trunk forward
    • CLaterally flexes the spine to that side
    • DAbducts the arm
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Laterally flexes the spine to that side

    • AIncorrect. It acts on the spine.
    • BIncorrect. That's the abdominals.
    • CCorrect. Both sides together extend the spine.
    • DIncorrect. It acts on the spine.

  5. Question 5

    Retraction of the scapulae is produced mainly by the:

    • APectoralis minor
    • BRhomboids
    • CSerratus anterior
    • DBiceps brachii
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Rhomboids

    • AIncorrect. It protracts and depresses.
    • BCorrect. With the middle trapezius.
    • CIncorrect. It protracts.
    • DIncorrect. It acts on the elbow.

  6. Question 6

    Which quadriceps muscle crosses both the hip and the knee?

    • AVastus lateralis, which crosses only the knee
    • BRectus femoris
    • CVastus medialis
    • DVastus intermedius
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Rectus femoris

    • AIncorrect. It crosses one joint.
    • BCorrect. It flexes the hip and extends the knee.
    • CIncorrect. It crosses one joint.
    • DIncorrect. It crosses one joint.

  7. Question 7

    The brachioradialis flexes the elbow, especially with the forearm in:

    • AFull extension
    • BFull supination, palm facing up
    • CNeutral (thumb up)
    • DHip flexion
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Neutral (thumb up)

    • AIncorrect. It flexes from neutral.
    • BIncorrect. That favors biceps.
    • CCorrect. Midway between pronation and supination.
    • DIncorrect. It acts on the elbow.

  8. Question 8

    Which muscle connects the spine to the scapula and retracts it, under the trapezius?

    • ASerratus anterior, which protracts the scapula
    • BRhomboid major
    • CPectoralis minor
    • DLatissimus dorsi
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Rhomboid major

    • AIncorrect. It protracts.
    • BCorrect. It also elevates and rotates the scapula.
    • CIncorrect. It protracts and depresses.
    • DIncorrect. It moves the arm.

  9. Question 9

    The elbow's humeroulnar joint is classified as a:

    • AHinge joint
    • BBall-and-socket joint
    • CSaddle joint
    • DGliding joint
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Hinge joint

    • ACorrect. Allowing flexion and extension.
    • BIncorrect. That's the hip or shoulder.
    • CIncorrect. That's the thumb base.
    • DIncorrect. It's a hinge.

  10. Question 10

    The pectoralis major adducts and:

    • AExtends the knee
    • BLaterally rotates the arm
    • CRetracts the scapula
    • DMedially rotates the arm
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Medially rotates the arm

    • AIncorrect. It acts on the shoulder.
    • BIncorrect. It medially rotates.
    • CIncorrect. That's rhomboids.
    • DCorrect. And flexes it (clavicular part).

Kinesiology: FAQs

How much of the MBLEx exam is Kinesiology?

Kinesiology is 12% of the MBLEx exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 100-question form works out to roughly 12 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Kinesiology domain cover?

How muscles and joints produce movement: muscle structure, types of contraction, proprioceptors, attachments and actions, and range of motion.

How should I study Kinesiology for MBLEx?

For each major muscle, learn its attachments and then work out its action from where it crosses the joint; this is quicker than memorising actions as a separate list.

Where can I practise more Kinesiology questions?

This page has 10 free Kinesiology questions with answers. The ExamWize MBLEx question bank has 73 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other MBLEx topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the MBLEx cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Kinesiology exam-ready

The full MBLEx bank has 73 Kinesiology questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full MBLEx practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with FSMTB; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.